Peters Banded Skinks belong to the monotypic genus Scincopus. They are described as having short, squat bodies and are lovingly said to have a “hotdog” shape. They are usually 7” - 11” snout to tail, have a bright orange/yellow color with distinctive black dorsal markings and a smooth cream colored underside, as well as small stubby legs that are kept close to the body. They're sleek, smooth and streamlined for quickly pushing through loose substrate.

Their sister taxon is Eumeces algeriensisi, more commonly known as Berbers skink. There are currently 2 known subspecies of Peters Banded Skink, S. f. fasciatus and S. f melanocephalus. S.f.f is what's present throughout essentially their entire range. S.f.m are described from a single population that is located on the eastern side of the Nile River in Sudan, specifically in Suakin. The extant range of PBS includes Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Mali, they are possibly extant to Morocco as well. Scientifically, they are considered a rare species, so recorded sightings of them are limited. However other reports such as collection records and civilian sightings add a bit to go off of.

They are typically found and collected within Sahelian acacia savannas, which are characterized as a transitional zone between the Sahara desert and Sudanian savanna. Their range is generally described as arid and exhibits strong seasonal conditions.